Power-operated adjusting means for harvester reels



1951 M. CHAPMAN ET AL 2,572,700

POWER-OPERATED ADJUSTING MEANS FOR HARVESTER REELS Filed March 5, 1949 2 SHEETSSIHEET 1 FIG. I 32 P 4 34 IM I ROBERTEWH/T/VE) Oct. 23, 1951 2,572,700

OPERATED ADJUSTING MEANS FOR HARVESTER REELS M.CHAPMAN ETAL POWER- 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Filed March 5, 1949 INVENTORS LELA/VDM CHAPMAN I P ROBERTEWH/T/VE) Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER-OPERATED ADJUSTING MEANS FOR HARVESTER REELS Leland M. Chapman, Bowling Green, and Robert E. Whitney, Weston, Ohio, assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 5, 1949, Serial No. 79,884

7 Claims. (01. 56222) 1 This invention relates to the adjustment by power of an operating element of a harvesting machine or the like, and more particularly to the adjustment of the harvester reel by power derived from the reel itself.

In the ordinary harvester, typical of which is a combine including a cutter bar and platform above which a reel is carried for rotation,

it is desirable to adjust the reel vertically with respect to the cutter bar to vary the distance above the cutter bar of the circular path through which the reel bats travel. In a prior well known construction, such as based on the disclosure in the U. S. patent to Lohse 2,414,958, the harvester reel is supported by a reel support which is adjustable vertically with respect to the harvester platform. Adjustment is accomplished bymeans of a vertical toothed rack connected to the platform and extending upwardly in proximity to the reel support, at which point the rack is engageable by a pinion rotatable in bearing means on the support. Mechanism for rotating the pinion in at least one direction includes a lever and step-by-step means controlled by successive pulls on a rope connected to the lever and extending to the tractor or other vehicle to which the harvester is connected. Althoughpresent invention to'improve an adjusting deviceof the type referred to by means of incorporating therein power-transmitting mechanism whichderives power from the rotating reel and transmits such power to an adjusting device, such as the rack and pinion referred to. It is an important object of the invention to provide the power-transmitting means in the form of a simple type of clutch which may be actuated by a' single pull on a rope or similar control element extending to a position convenient to the operator. A further important objectresides in means for immobilizing the adjusting device so that the adjusted position of the reel may be secured; and, in this respect, it is a further object to coordinate the immobilizing means with the control means for the power-transmitting means in such manner that the immobilizing means is rendered ineffective when the p wer-transmitting means is conditioned to transfer power from the reel to the adjustable device.

A further object of the invention relates, to:

the provision of a conversion or attachment unit whereby the power-transmitting means may be' readily attached to a harvester in place of the manually operated device heretofore provided.

In this respect, it is an important object to pro-- vide the conversion or attachment unit in such manner that the unit can be installed without materially altering the prior structure.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable'features inherent in and encompassed by the present invention will become apparent" to those skilled in the art as a preferred embodiment of the invention is fully disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the forward portion of a harvester showing the harvester frame, platform, rotating reel, and the improved adjusting device;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, on a scale slightly enlarged over that of Figure 1 and illustrating more clearly the power-transmitting means for the adjustable device;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, on a reduced,

scale, showing a typical harvester of a combine type equipped with the adjusting device;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a face view of part of the immobilizing means, the View being partly in section as viewed along the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a face view of one of the clutch parts, part of the view being in section and taken member l2 by means of which the combine may be connected to a tractor or other draft vehicle. Various components of the combine have their source of power in a gear box l3 which in turn obtains power from a propeller shaft l4 connectible at its forward end to the power take-off shaft of the vehicle that propels the machine.

The forward portion of the combine includes suitable framework in the form of side sheets I5 and allied members which make up a harvester platform I6, across the front of which extends aputter barJJ, much inthecQnventiQnaL 5 manner. Grain cut -by-; the cuttembar "fl 1 iconveyed rearwardly by a conveyor I8 to suitable crop-treating mechanism (not shown) contained.,. within a portion of the body Ii], all of which may 4 power is transmitted through a chain 40 to an intermediate sprocket 4|. This latter sprocket is fixed to a transverse shaft 42 which is journaled appropriately in the body I0 and which extendsltowardthe left of..the...body to. carry for rotation; thferewith'pa second intermedi'ate sprocket 43. Power is transmitted from the sprocket 43..,by means of a forwardly extending endless chain 44 to a sprocket 45 concentric with and likewise be conventional or of anycfiesircd design-1..lucconnected'.inmoweretransmitting relationship to Cutting of the grain by the cutter barslliisr assisted by means of a rotating reel, designated generally by the numeral Ikwhich comprises hollow reel shaft or pipe 20 j(Fig-ure..,4 a .pair\ of hub elements ZI spaced axially of and fixed to the pipe, a plurality of arms 22 extending radially from the hubs, and a plurality of reel bats 23 at the outer ends of and interconnectin mI-Qr lated pairs of arms 22. The reel pipe is disppsedtransverse yacross and above the pl tform. 20 I6 and is rotatableraboutra transverseshaftjl; Opposite endslofnthe shaft" 24 g are carried 1 in strncturesuch; as is indicated or o n jn t e. shaft in Figures 1 and. i4 particularly.

The me ans for supporting the ends of. the shaft 25' Z tfinelucles. a reel -su o d s n ed e era y. b'y the, numeral 12 5 whichj is arranged=for adj ust-i ment vertically withjrespect to the platform. The supporting structure further includes a rearwardly extending brace 26:pivoted1at2Tattits forwardend'to a U -shaped member 28 included in the reel support and pivotally connectedJat its ,rear end at 29 toan appropriate portion of the body Ill." The particular arrangement is' relatively. unimportant and any; other. suitable structure could. be substituted, for that illus. trated.

3412, This guide,isrpreferably securedrto or .forms.

a part of the U-shaped' member,-.28 by .me.ans of a-centra1ly apertured memberor plate -35... As shbwnnthe member .35jand guide 3.4.areintes11al. and the member.35 is securedltothe, memberifl as, by ,welding at 36.."(Fi i1re A);

The .pinion-.-,3I .is.- preferably formed. integral. with'a coaxial sleeve 31. .that fits. the ,outermend portion of the, shaft v24. that.projectsaxially at the right handend of thereel I9,j(th'e, expression right hand?'being used with reference to. relationshipofithe parts as viewed hiya person, stand-1 ing at the ,rearof the machine and lookineiiorweirdly) The central aperture. in the .member. 35.; as designated bythe numeral 38jin Figure4; issufliicientlylarger, in diameter than, the out: sidediameter of 'the sle'eve 3ITto receive the lata. ter-"loosely, whereby the member 35',iin effect," acts as a bearing ;or. jgurnaling 7 means for the pinion and sleeve. Th'ereel'I9,being carried on. thepipe 2ll,' is rotatable relative to the shaft, 24.1

The reel is supplied with powerto effect the ro-- tation; thereof by; power-transmitting means deriving its-powerii'ntthe first instance from the wheel l I (Figure '3). The 'wheel II, has fixed-- thereto a driving sprocket-3Thy-means (if-Which" tained i drive-transmitting relationship, by means of'a compression spring 5I which encircles thepipe -20 'and' reacts, against a .collar .52'jhelld'.

against axial shifting on the pipe 20by means includingaclamp 53 "and-securing bolt 54, the. latter being-preferablyrecessed. in the pipe 2t.

Theparticular type'of slip clutch' illustrated may be-varied-according to circumstances and. is i1- lustrated herein only as.means 'forpreventing damage to the 'reel inthe event 'that "the ,reel 1 strikes an obstruction, whereby the portions '49 and 50 may-yield or slip' and thus-prevent rotation=-of the reel eventhough the transmission of power-to-the sprocket 4'5 is-continued-q Normally; the reel is driven and rotates relaassembly andits related parts to move vertically upor down therack, andit -is this structure and function that are "utilized-Etc accomplish verti';

cal adjustment ofthe reelassembly. In order.

that the adjustment of the reel-withrespect to the -platform may-be equalijzed, a similar 'rack' andpinion or equivalent adjustable device may be providcd at-the opposite'end of the reeljandv arrack 55 for that purpose'is'visiblein Figure 1.;

However; whatever devicc'is used 'to effect 1'09. tatio'n-of the'pinion 3 I at 1 the right hand end of the-shaft 24'need not be duplicated at the opposite end of the shaft -since theshaft-willtransmit -the-torquefrom one end thereof to the other:

In the- Lohse patent referred 'to above; the, rack that corresponds to the rack 32 in the present-instance-is reversed with respect tothe pinion that is; the rack is behind the pinion; This relationshipresults from 1the type of manually operated mechanism utilized to rotate I the pinion, In-the prior patent;- the -pinion is-rotated in a -counterclockwise direction to obtain elevation of the reeland in a clockwise-direction to obtain lowering 'ofthe-- reel. In the present case inasmuchas :power- =-for rotating the pinion 3I-is derived directly-from thereel itself,

and since the reel rotates in a clockwise direction (aswiewed in Figure 1), the rack-'32 is-- reversed; that is, is placed aheadof the'pinionso-thatclockwise rotation of the pinion will cause the pinion to climb the rackand'hence to raise the reel with-respect-tothe platform I6; Conversely; reverse or I counterclockwise rotation of the pinion-will'zeifect loweringpf the reel. As will be "hereinafter -brought out more --fully; F lowering of=the reel is accomplished*by 'gravitw the --ree1- being allowed to descend under its own weight, which is possible since the rack and pinion are not irreversible.

As shown in Figure 4, the sleeve 31 which forms part of the pinion 3| and which extends axially toward the driving part 41, is formed with an axial keyway 56 by means of which a shiftable or driven part or member 51 is arranged for selectively establishing or interrupting drive between the sprocket 45 and pinion 3|. The keyway 56 and a cooperating key 58 on the member or part 51' thus mounts the member for rotation with the pinion 3| but for axial shifting therealong toward and away from the member or part 41. In other words, the member 51 is shiftable back and forth between the members 35 and 41. The member 35 may be referred to as a stationary member and the member 41 may be referred to as a constantly rotating member. The member 51 is a dual purpose member, in that it is at times stationary and at times driven by the member or part 41. For the purpose of shifting the member 51 back and forth between the members 35 and 41, the supporting structure includes mounting means comprising a bracket 59 suitably secured to the rack guide 34, as best illustrated in Figure 2. To this bracket is pivoted control means including a control member 60, the pivotal connection being effected at 6|. The member 69 is in the form of a bell crank one arm of which is in the form of a yoke 62 received in an annular groove 63 in the member 51, the latter being formed much in the manner of a conventional clutch collar. The other arm of the bell crank or member 66 is made available for operation by an operator on the tractor or other vehicle that is utilized to supply propelling power for the combine. For this purpose, the arm is connected by a forwardly extending control rope 64, it being understood that the forward end of the rope 64 may be tied by the operator to the seat or any other convenient part of the draft vehicle.

The pivotal mounting of the control arm 66 on the bracket 59 is such that a forward pull on the rope 64 will shift the collar or member 51 toward the driving part or member 41. The control member 66 is returned by resilient means including a pair of tension springs 65 so that the collar 51 is normally urged toward the member 35, or to the left as viewed in Figure 4. In the present instance, the bracket 59 is shown as having an extension 66 to spaced portions of which one end of each spring 65 is connected. The other ends of the springs 65 are connected to the yoke arm of the control member 69, as at 61. The construction illustrated may, of course, be replaced by any other construction of appropriate design, depending upon requirements or individual desires.

The members 41 and 51 comprise a connectible and disconnectible clutch and to this end each is provided with engageable portions. In the preferred form illustrated, the member 41 includes as an integral part thereof a circular flange 68 provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 69 (Figure 6). Each of these openings is preferably circumferentially elongated and is further tapered in the direction of rotation of the member 41. Still further, each portion is tapered in an axial direction toward the reel, as best shown in Figure 4.

The shiftable member or driven part is provided at its side proximate to the member 41 with a circular flange from which projects a' stud or lug 1|. This stud is circular, although tapered in conformance with the axial taper of anyone of the openings 69. The lug 1| is tapered and the openings 69 are preferably shaped as shown for the purpose of facilitating engagement and disengagement between the parts 41 and 51, since engagement is effected by a pull on the rope 64 to shift the member 51 into engagement with the member 41 and the continued application of pull on the rope to maintain engagement against the loading imposed by the springs 65. Inasmuch as the lug 1| is tapered, the operator has only to release the rope64 and the springs 65 will disengage the member 51 from the member 41.

The shiftable driven member 51 is provided with a second circular flange 12 proximate to the plate or member 35. The member 35 and flange 12 comprise cooperative means for locking or immobilizing the adjustable device 35. For this purpose, the member 35 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and circumferentially elongated openings 13 (Figure 5), any one of which may be engaged by a cooperating portion in the form of a lug 14 on the proximate face of the flange 12. The lug 14 is preferably circular in cross section and therefore its dimension circumferentially as respects the flange 12 is considerably less than the length of any one of the openings or slots 13. This arrangement is provided for facilitating the engagement of the lug 14 with any of these openings when the member 51 is shifted by the springs 65 into cooperative engagement with the member 35 to effect looking or immobilizing of the pinion 3| and its associated integral sleeve 31, which position the member 51 normally occupies because of the tension on the springs 65. The member 51 is shown in this position in Figures 1 and 2 but is illustrated in an intermediate position in Figure 4.

The intermediate position of the member 51 may be secured by the operator by his balancing his pull on the rope 64 against the reaction of the springs 65 and he can thus effect shifting of the member 51 only part way between the members 41 and 35. For example, in the event that he desires to disengage the member 51 from the member 41 without allowing the member 51 to become immobilized by engagement with the member 35, he relaxes his tension on the rope and permits the springs 65 to disengage the member 51, but he immediately holds the rope when he determines that the member 51 is in its intermediate position. On the other hand, in shifting the member 51 from looking or immobilizing position, the operator may pull on the rope to an extent only suflicient to disengage the lug 14 from the member 35 but not sufficient to engage the lug 1| with the member 41. When the member 51 is in its intermediate position, power is not transmitted from the rotating reel to the pinion. When the member 51 is in its intermediate position, it is engaged with neither the member 41 nor the member 35. Accordingly, the reel may descend on the racks 32 and 55 by virtue of its own weight. Hence, power from the rotating reel is utilized to elevate the reel, gravity is the force that effects lowering of the reel, and securing of the reel in any adjusted position is effected by the immobilizing of the pinion 3| by the means comprising the parts or members 35 and 51.

Operati n The operation of the harvester equipped with the preferred embodiment of the power-transmitting unit as described above is relatively sim ple, especially as compared with the operation of manually powered devices of the type disclosed imthe. patent refe'rredjto, rabovea. Thercombine or other harvesterds propellediover the ,fieldsirr the.

usual; manner by a .tractor,.for example-,: and the.

forward end'of thesoperatingxor.control rope:64- iswithin. convenient reach :of the operator. In the event that the operator desires to elevate the reel" with respect tothe platform, he pulls: on the rope.64 sufiiciently to efiectengagement between the members 47 and 51;; There is noquestion but that the reel has sufficient power to rotate the :pinion. 3| and'the. companion pinion for-the rack 55. attth'e other end of the .reel shaft 24. Since the reel 'isconstantly rotating in a clockwise-direction, as viewed in; Figured, the pinions will: likewise. be 1 rotated in a. clockwise direction: a-ndcwill climbtheracks v32 and.55.;.. Afterrthe; desired. height. hasabeen .obtained;...the operator.

willi-full'y releasexthe rope. .64; whereupon the. springs ;65 :.willi be. effective to returrr the .aarnr'iill towardgthe. rack '32,; thus shifting the .member. 513 axially .toward the member .35 sothat the lugs" onzthe former "engagesone. of:.the .openingsriorslots 13:in the. latter: Since. theopenings :13 are. elongated. over 1 the;circumferentia1 dimension: of

the lug] 4', engagement. betweerrthese. components;

lug?! with. the .membcr 41.; Thisiivill'ireeithe'. member: 5'. from .both the lockingcmember 35.1

and;the drivingimember 41;, whereupon thereel may descend bywirtue; of itsz'ownzweight; In: practice; it will be found that'the. operatorscan: developa sense oficontrol'sorthat. he can readilydetermine theintermediate :position of I the member. 51. Further,: the intermediate -.position..of. this member can. be determined without an. .ex--.. act centering of the :member by .thezarmxsfl fand: rope.=;-64,-1since.the-tapered design ofxthelug. H and openingstfi will. tendnto prevent: engagement. ofithe member.:51 withthe member 4T unless a-.conscious effort is; made on :the .part of theoperator-to efiect such engagement.

The adaptation of the power-transmitting means to wharvester as a conversionunitiis readily accomplishedr The pinion 3|? andits.v

associated;.sleeve 31" comprise a part :th'at-Teplaces thepinion'of; the type provided as original equipment in a-harvester furnished with the-device of the patent referred to above; The original rack at eachend of'the shaft 24 maybe utilized, but is reversed with respect :to' thepin ion as previously stated. The remainder of'th'e parts may be specially furnished-- toreplace-orig-- inal equipment. For..example, the'drivingmember 475- may ibe substituted for the original member which occupies the same relationship to the sprocket it as that illustrated. Similarly, the structure vcomprising.the components.- 28,. 35.;and

Simay befurnished as areplacement, unit. The. brace .26.. and, pin 2! are, part .of .the.-original. equipment. It willthusbeseen.that.yery 1ittle,. itany material modification. is -.{required :to; Bf:

fectithe installation: of tithe:poweretransmittingi unit :as :an attachment ;or. sconversionsunitti.

The provision of the improvedlipower-atransa mit-ting means as original equipmentonaharvesters may be.jus.t .as.readily effected, since .-it will: beseen that" material modifications in.original design are not required.

Summary Various objects. and features of the-invention not specifically-pointedout above will undoubteedly" occur to those =versed .inuthe' art, as .-wi1'1;-

numerous modifications andaal-terations in-sthel preferred embodiment of theinvention'. illus,.-- trated, all of which may be accomplished-with: out departing from the spirit and scope ofitlieinvention as defined in the appended claims;

What is claimed is 1. For harvesters of the type --having a .plat=- form above which is carried for vertical. adjustement a support on which is mounted reel structure including a rotating reel havingua shaft projecting axially outwardly at one endth'ereof and a .reel driving element concentric with;the. reel and shaft'forrotating the reel relative: to. the shaft, and. wherein vertical adjustment: of the reel structure is eifected by a rack connected to the platform and extending upwardly adja-. cent to the shaft and in. axially outwardly: spaced relation to. the reel-driving element, the improvement comprising: means including a. pinion and a coaxial sleeve fixed thereto having provision for mounting on the outer-end of. the shaft for rotation relative to the reel-driving element and with the pinion in mesh with; the rack; a driving part coaxially positionable adjacent to the reel-driving element in axially in wardly spaced relation to the pinion andhaving means for connection to and rotation with'the reel-driving element, said driving part having a clutch portion facing the pinion; and a driven part rotatable with'and selectively axially shiftable on the sleeve toward 'or away from the driven part and having a clutch portion facing and selectively engageable with or disengageable from the driving part clutch portion.

2..The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: a locking member is pro-. vided with means for locking connection to the reel support in fixed position closely spaced outwardlyof the driven part and having a locking portionfacing inwardly toward the driven part and the. driven part has provided thereon acooperative locking portion. facing outwardly toward the locking member, saidlocking portions being disengageable when the ,driven part isshifted toward the driving part and engageable when. the driven part is shifted .away from the .driving part.

3. The invention definedin claim. 2, further. characterized in that:v the locking memberand. driving part are so axially spaced, and the driven. part and its locking and clutch portions are so. proportioned, that the driven part may occupya position axially intermediate the locking mem-. ber and driving part and with its locking and. clutch portions respectively disengaged from the.- locking and clutch-portions of the locking-meme. ber and driving part, whereby the pinionis free. to vrolldownwardly v along the. .rack to allow-the reelwstruoture. to descend under its-own. weight.

4.. Theinvention. defined in.'claim..3, further.-

characterized in that: a .singlecontrol member;

having neansior-mountingon; thesuppOrt is. prof;

vided with a connection to shift the driven part selectively among its locking, clutching or intermediate positions.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the clutch portion on one of the parts includes a radial face portion having therein a plurality of angularly spaced slots elongated circumferentially and tapered circumferentially in the direction of rotation of the driving part, and the clutch portion on the other part includes a lug thereon projecting toward the other clutch portion in position to engage one of said slots, the circumferential dimension of said lug being less than the circumferential elongation of a slot so as to facilitate connection of the lug and a slot.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, further characterized in that: each of said slots is further tapered axially inwardly, and the projecting end of the lug is correspondingly axially tapered so as to facilitate disconnection of the lug from a slot.

7. For a harvester having a platform, a support, a rotary reel vertically adjustable relative to the platform, and rotary drive means, the improvement comprising: means for fixed mounting on the support in axially spaced relation to the rotary means; clutch means for the rotary means facing the fixed means; lock means for the fixed means facing the rotary means; a drive part coaxially intermediate and rotatable relative to the fixed means and the rotary means, and having lock means at one side thereof and clutch means at its other side; means mounting the drive part for 10 selective axial shifting in one direction from an intermediate position, in which its lock and clutch means are free from the lock and clutch means of the fixed means and rotary means, to a first position in which its clutch means engages the clutch means of the rotary means, or in the opposite direction to a second position in which its lock means engages the lock means of the fixed means; power-transmitting means interconnecting the drive part and the reel for elevating the reel when the drive part is in its first or clutching position, said power-transmitting means being efiective to reverse the direction of rotation of the drive part when the drive part is in its intermediate position so that the reel may descend under its own weight; and said drive part in its second position effecting engagement of its looking means with the locking means of the fixed means to lock the drive part against reverse rotation and thereby to fix the reel against descending.

LELAND M. CHAPMAN.

ROBERT E. WHITNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 862,258 Lait Aug. 6, 1907 868,788 Lait Oct. 22, 1907 2,414,958 Lohse Jan. 28, 1947 

